Fountain soldering tool



June 5, 1923. ,508

A. DELLMAN FOUNTAIN SOLDERING TOOL Filed May 16, 1921 INVE OR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented June 5, 1923.

UNITED STATES ALEXANDER DELLMAN, OF MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN.

FOUNTAIN SOLDERING TOOL.

Application filed May 16, 1921. Serial No. 470,146.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER DELLMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mount Clemens, in the county of Macomb and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FountainSoldering Tools, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fountain soldering tools. It has for itsobject the substitution of an easily controlled electrically heatedsolder distributer in place of the old soldering iron. Such a tool isnot broadly new but the tool shown in the drawings hereinafter describedin detail has several features that are believed to be improvements overthe prior art.

The tool is provided with a solder-contain ing chamber that is co-a'xialwith the tool. The tool is also provided with a control valve which isco-axial with the main body of the tool and which does not run throughthe solder chamber. The flow of solder through the discharge orifice isnicely controlled simply by closing off or admitting air to thesolder-containing chamber. This eliminates all gumming up of the controlvalve due to the solder collecting on the stem of the same. It alsopermits the use of a simple cylindrical cartridge that may be chargedinto the solder-containing chamber by simply unscrewing the tip,

The lead-in wires for the electric resistance element run back throughthe handle portion of the tool. Their fire-proof. insulation is furtherprotected by the air vents which provide the air to eject the solderfrom the tool. These and other features will be de scribed in detail.

In the drawings,- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the tool. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of of the collar to assem lothe fiber collar onthe end of the barrel. The other end of the barrel isprovided with external screwthreads 6 and a metal collar f is pinned on.TlllS collar f acts as a stop for the tip 9' that screws onto theexternal threads 6 of the barrel. The barrel (1 is wrapped with an innerinsulating wrapping of mica h. Around this is wound the inner winding 2'of the resistance element. A second wrapping of mica j separates theouter winding k of the resistance element from the inner winding 71. Thecollars f and b are of larger diameter than the outer winding andconsequently prevent the outer winding coming in contact with thesheathing tube Z. This sheathin tube is provided with openings throughwhich the screws m may pass to screw the lower end of the sheathing tubeto the metal collar f. The upper end of the sheathing tube is providedwith a perforation through which the screws 71. may ass to secure thesheathing tube to the coup ing head 0.

The hollow stem p can be fitted into the inner end of the coupling head0 and secured in place by the screw 9. This hollow stem houses thelead-in wires 1' which are preferably provided with a heat resistingelectric insulation such as an asbestos composition. These wires arefastened to the double bindlng posts 8 and t on the insulatin collar 6that is plainly shown in Figs. 2 an 4, They lead up through the hollowstem 1) and are provided with suitable binding posts (not shown) locatedin the chamber reached through the lid u in the handle. These bindingposts permit the lead-in wires to be connected with the cable '11. Thiscable '0 is protected from abrasion. by the familiar spiral spring :2.The hollow stem p is secured in the hollow wooden handle 'w by means ofthe ring y and the set screws 2.

The control for the flow of the melted solder is very simple. Itcomprises a needle valve 1 guided in the hollow stem p.

A guide sleeve 2 fits over the needle valve and is provided with a lip3. The split sleeve 4 fits tightly around the hollow stem .p and isprovi ed with a notch 5 in its upper surface. A screw 6 can be run intothe threads in the split sleeve, the hollow stem p and the lip 3. Thisobviously assembles the needle valve '1 in the center of the hollowstem. The inner end of the needle valve is flattened as at 7 and theforked lever 8 can straddle the flat portion. This is a bent lever whichis assembled in place when the needle valve is assembled to the hollowstem as this bent lever passes through the opening 9 formed in thehollow stem p and the notch in the top or the split sleeve 4. The bentlever iulcrums on the lower wall of this notch 5. coiled spring 10engages around the needle valve and abuts at its inner end against thewasher 11 that is against the guide sleeve 2 and at its outer endagainst-theabutment 12 that is fast to the needle valve 1. Hence thisspring 10 normally keeps the point 13 of the needle valve in the nipple14 provided in the plug 0. Air enters the hollow tube through the airvents 15 and tends to cool the insulation on the lead-in wires. When theneedle valve 13 is opened by the depression of the bent lever 8 the airis free to flow into the solder-containing barrel a to take the place ofany solder that may flow out by gravity through the discharge orifice 17in the tip 9.

It is a well observed fact that in order to pour the contents of anordinary receptacle air must be admitted to the receptacle to take theplace of the heavier fluid flowing out. In an oil can, for instance, ifthe top vent is not open the air runs up through the spout and the oilitself, producing the peculiar gurgling sound that occurs. How

ever, if the discharge orifice of the fluid is.

relatively small or of a capillary character this action will not occur.The fluid under such strong ca illary attraction from the immediately adacent walls will not permit the air to break up through the dischargeorifice. The consequence is that ordinarily 4 with only gravity to causethe flow the fluid will not flow unless it is open somewhere to theatmosphere. I take advantage of this principle of operation incontrolling the flow of the solden The solder-containing barrel 0a issubstantially air-tight at both ends and if an absolutely true fit ofthe lug or tip is not had, the fluid solder is sufcient to make itair-tight and the result is that with the valve 13 in its seat in the niple 14, no sullicient air can enter to ta e the place of any solder thatmay flow through the orifice 17 by gravity. Hence as long as the needlevalve is seated the flow of the solder is cut As soon as the needlevalveis lifted by pressing the bent lever 8 the solder begins to flow again.

I am aware'that needle valves have been used to regulate the opening inthe discharge orifice ot the solder-containing chamher or the tip but insuch a position they either must be located to one side of the axis ofthe tool in a separate chamber or else they have to pass through thesolder chamber, and of course, are solidified into the solder blockevery time the tool is allowed to cool. They are subjected to ginnmingand sticking, and are not at all satisfactory when so located. My aircontrol for the solder-containing chamber eliminates passing the valvethrough or into immediate contact with the mainbody of solder so thevalve is protected from gumming and daubing and from being frozen intothe solidifying solder. Furthermore, the needle valve is locatedco-axial1y in the stem of the tool, both a convenient place and makingfor a neat mechanical appearing tool. Furthermore and importantly, asolid cylinder or cartridge 19 of solder can be charged into thesolder-containing chamber simply by unscrewing the r r- What l claim is:

1. In a fountain soldering tool, the combination of a substantiallyair-tight soldercontaining chamber provided with a capillary dischargepassage and an air port, and an air port valve for cutting off andpermitting discharge from the discharge passage by controlling theadmission of air under atmospheric pressure to said chamber through saidair port.

2. In a fountain soldering tool, the com-' bination of a substantiallyair-tight soldercontaining chamber provided with an air port, a tipprovided with a relatively small capillary discharge orifice andcommunicating with saidsolder-containing chamber, and a finger-operatedvalve cutting oil and said orifice by controlling the admission of airunder atmospheric pressure through said air port to saidsolder-containing chamber..

3. a fountain soldering tool, the combination of a substantiallyair-tight soldercontaining chamber, a tip provided with a relativelysmall discharge orifice adapted to communicate with said chamber, and aspring-seated valve for cutting ofii the discharge of solder through thetip by preventing the admission of air under atmospheric pressure to thesolder-containing chamber but permitting the flow of solder when thevalve is lifted.

l. ln a fountain soldering tool, the combination of a barrel wrappedwith electric insulation and arranged to be substantially air tight whenclosed, an electric heat resists ing element'about said barrel, saidbarrel forming a solder-containing chamber, a ti removahly connectablewith said barrel and having a capillary orifice through the end or thetip, and means for controlling the admission of .air under atmosphericpres sure to said barrel forming said soldercontaining chamber.

5. In a fountain soldering tool, the comhination of a barrel forcontaining solder and providedat its inner end with an insulating collarand provided at its outer end with a collar, a plug fitting into theinner end of the barrel, a tip removably fitting into the outer end oithebarrel, electric insulation wrapped aroundthe barrel between the twocollars, an electric resistance element supported on the electricinsulation but the winding being of less diameter than the collars, anda sheathing tube in which said solder-containing barrel is contained.

6. Ina fountain soldering tool, the combination of a solder-containingchamber provided with an orifice in one end and substantially air tightwhen closed, means closing the other end of the solder-containingchamber and having a relatively small outlet orifice for the dischargeof the solder, a heating element contained around the saidsolder-containing chamber, and a needle valve which is normally closedand which can be opened to allow the admission of air under atmosphericpressure to the solder ing chamber to permit the flow of solder throughthe discharge orifice.

7. In a fountain soldering tool, the combination of a barrel forming asolder-containing chamber substantially air tight when closed and havinat one end a plug provided with an ori ce therethrough and having in theopposite end a tip provided with a discharge orifice of relatively smalldiameter, an electric resistance element for heating said barrel to meltthe solder, a needle valve in substantially co-axial relation withrespect to said barrel and provided with a suitable guide, said needlevalve guarding the opening through the plug in the inner end of thebarrel, and means by which said needle valve may be manipulated to openthe valve to permit ,the flow of solder through the discharge orifice inthe tip due to atmospheric pressure.

8. In a fountain soldering tool, the combination of a solder-containingchamber substantially air ti ht when closed and provided with a mem r onone end through which is a relatively small discharge orifice, the otherend of the solder-containing chamber provided with an air opening, meansfor heating said s lder-containing chamber, a needle valve 11 rmallyclosing the opening through the 'air opening in the said chamber, andmeans for manipulating the needle valve to permit air under atmosphericpressure to pass into the said chamber to allow the discharge of solderthrough the deliver orifice.

9. In a ountain soldering tool, a sheathing tube, a solder-containingbarrel located therein, a hollow stem connected with the sheathing tube,and a needle valve controlling the opening into said solder-containingbarrel and provided with a guide sleeve that can be removably secured tothe inside of the hollow stem to locate and uide the needle valvesubstantially co-axial y of said.

bination of a sheathing tube, a solder-containing barrel containedtherein and provided at one end with a plug having an air vent openingtherein, a'hollow stem connecting with said sheathing tube and coaxialtherewith and provided with vent ports, a needle valve guided co-axiallyin said hollow stem and guarding the air vent opening in thesolder-containing barrel, an electric resistance element wound about thesaid solder-containing barrel and provided with lead-in wires that leadup through the hollow stem and are air-vented by the said ports in thesaid hollow stem.

11. In a fountain soldering tool, a sheathing tube, a solder-containingchamber in the form of a barrel provided at each end with collars, anelectric resistance element wound about the soldering tube but havingits windings of less diameter than the said collars, a tip communicatingwith the soldercontaining chamber and provided with a discharge orifice,and means for controlling the flow of the solder through the dischargeorifice.

12. In a fountain soldering tool, a sheathing tube, a solder-containingbarrel plugged at its inner end and provided at its outer end with acollar to which the sheathing tube is fastened and also with a threadedprojecting portion, and a removable plug screwing onto said threadedprojecting portion, and an electric resistance element wound around thesolder-containing barrel and spaced from the said sheathing tube.

13. In a fountain soldering tool, a sheathing tube, a solder-containingbarrel plugged at one end and provided with an insulating collar at suchend and provided at the outer end with a collar to which the sheathingtube is removably attached and also provided with a screw-threadedprojecting portion, a tip removably screwing onto the saidscrew-threaded projecting portion, an electric insulating material woundabout said solder-containing barrel intermediate the collars, and anelectric resistance element wound on the said insulating material andhavin a winding diameter less than the said 001 ars.

14. In a fountain soldering tool, a soldercontaining chamber providedwith an air vent opening, a sheathing tube in which is contained saidsolder-containing chamber, a hollow stem connected with the sheathingtube substantially co-axial therewith and provided with an orifice inits side, a. notched sleeve fitted over said hollow stem adjacent saidorifice, a needle valve contained within said hollow stem and guardingthe said air vent in said solder-containing chamber, a guide sleevethrough which said needle valve slides provided with a projecting lip, ascrew passing through the said notched sleeve and adapted to engage insaid lip for assembling the bearing sleeve in the hollow stem, and alever adapted to engage the inner end of the needle valve and tulcrumedon the wall of the notch-oi the said sleeve about the hollow stem.

15. In a fountain soldering tool, the combination of a sheathing tube, asolder-containing chamber provided with an air vent contained therein,ahollow stem connected with the sheathing tube and substantially(Lo-axial therewith, a guide sleeve removably secured to the interior ofthe hollow stem, a needle valve provided with a head memos and threadedthrough the guide sleeve and provided with a head at its inner end and aflattened surface there adjacent, said needle valve guarding said airvent in said soldercontaining chamber, a forked lever engaging the saidflattened needle valve portion and against the head of the needle valve,and means for removably fulcruming said lever on the side of the hollowstem.

l'n testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALEXANDER DELLMAN.

